THE NEW ZEALAND UNIVERSITY.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 4842, 28 September 1876, Page 2

THE NEW ZEALAND UNIVERSITY.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE HEW ZEALAND TIMES. Sir, I see in the telegrams to-day an item to the effect that “ Degrees conferred by the University of New Zealand will for the future have equal rank with those granted by the Universities of the United Kingdom.” Might I ask what in the world this means ? Does it mean that any one of the old Universities, Oxford, Cambridge, Dublin, or London, are willing, or are to be compelled, to admit the graduates of New Zealand University to their degrees ad eundem statvm i Ido not believe that can be the meaning. Or, does it mean that the Empire at large is to be compelled bylaw to accord to these New Zealand degrees a consideration and respect greater than they have yet won or appear likely to win for themselves ? That meaning seems equally improbable; and it appears to me, whatever may be the particular object and meaning of thiscurious announcement, that there is no royal road to academic status and reputation any more than Newton said there was to mathematics. No privilege given By law can confer upon a learned body a character which it has not won for itself. But what does this thing mean at all ?—I am, &c., “ Curious.”